Surgical stapling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A surgical apparatus is provided. The surgical apparatus includes an actuator device including a body portion defining a longitudinal axis and a first articulating link. The first articulating link includes a mechanical interface and is movable between a non-articulated position and at least one articulated position. A reload is releasably coupled to a distal end of the body portion. The reload including a second articulating link configured to engage the first articulating link when the reload is coupled to the actuator device. The reload including a tool assembly which is pivotable from a first a position aligned with the longitudinal axis of the body portion to at least one position misaligned with the longitudinal axis of the body portion. The first articulation link and the mechanical interface prevent the reload from being disengaged from the actuator device when the first articulating link is in the at least one articulated position.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to surgical stapling apparatuses. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to surgical staplingapparatuses including a universal handle articulating link.

2. Description of Related Art

Surgical apparatus including an actuator device configured to receiveremovable loading units or reloads are known. The reloads are removablyattached to the actuator device and disposable after use to facilitatereuse of the actuator device with a fresh, i.e., unused, reload. Eachreload includes an end effector or tool assembly which is actuatable viaoperation of the actuator device to perform a surgical procedure. Forexample, a tool assembly can include a stapling device having a firstjaw supporting a cartridge and a second jaw supporting an anvil toperform a surgical stapling procedure. Alternatively, the tool assemblycan include a clip applier or other surgical device. Typically, thereload is removably attached to or detached from the actuator device byrotating the reload in relation to the stapling device.

Reloads including tool assemblies which articulate in relation to thebody portion of the actuator device are well known. Articulatable toolassemblies facilitate easier access to tissue during surgicalprocedures, e.g., endoscopic surgical procedures. In some known devices,disengagement of the reload from the actuator device while the toolassembly is in an articulated position may prevent attachment of a freshreload to the actuator device. It would be desirable to provide a reloadwhich prevents disengagement of the reload from the actuator device whenthe tool assembly is in an articulated position.

SUMMARY

As can be appreciated, surgical stapling apparatuses including auniversal handle articulating link that is configured to lock the singleuse or MULU reload to a body portion of a stapling apparatus when thetool assembly is in an articulated configuration may prove useful in thesurgical arena.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail withreference to the drawing figures wherein like reference numeralsidentify similar or identical elements. As used herein, the term“distal” refers to the portion that is being described which is furtherfrom a user, while the term “proximal” refers to the portion that isbeing described which is closer to a user.

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a surgical apparatus. Thesurgical apparatus includes an actuator device including a body portiondefining a longitudinal axis and a first articulating link extendinglongitudinally along the body portion. The first articulating linkincludes one or more mechanical interfaces disposed thereon and ismovable between a non-articulated position and one or more articulatedpositions. A reload is configured to be releasably coupled to a distalend of the body portion of the actuator device. The reload includes asecond articulating link configured to engage the first articulatinglink when the reload is coupled to the actuator device. The reloadincludes a tool assembly which is pivotable from a first a positionaligned with the longitudinal axis of the body portion to one or morepositions misaligned with the longitudinal axis of the body portion. Thefirst articulation link and the mechanical interface are configured toprevent the reload from being disengaged from the actuator device whenthe first articulating link is in the at least one articulated position.The surgical apparatus may be a manual surgical stapling apparatus

The mechanical interface(s) disposed on the first articulating link maybe a pin, a welded block or a lance. The mechanical interface(s)disposed on the first articulating link may be positioned adjacent adistal hook portion disposed at a distal end of the first articulatinglink. The mechanical interface(s) disposed on the first articulatinglink may be positioned proximal of the distal hook portion of the firstarticulating link.

The reload may include a slot disposed adjacent a proximal end of ashaft of the reload. The mechanical interface(s) disposed on the firstarticulating link may be configured to be received in the slot on theshaft of the reload when the first and second articulating links are inthe at least one articulated position to prevent the reload from beingdisengaged from the actuator device.

The body portion may include a slot adjacent the distal end thereof. Themechanical interface(s) disposed on the first articulating link may beconfigured to be received in the slot of the body portion when the firstand second articulating links are engaged with one another and in thenon-articulated position. The slot of the body portion and a hookportion of the second articulating link of the reload may be configuredto prevent the reload from being disengaged from the actuator device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelowwith references to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side, perspective view of a manually operated surgicalapparatus including an actuator device supporting a reload;

FIG. 2 is a partial, perspective view of a first articulating link ofthe actuator device according to an embodiment of the instantdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a distal end of a body portion of the actuatordevice of the surgical apparatus shown in FIG. 1 coupled to the proximalend of the reload shown in FIG. 1 with an outer sleeve of the bodyportion removed and the first articulating link in a non-articulatedposition;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a distal end of a body portion of the actuatordevice of the surgical apparatus shown in FIG. 1 coupled to the proximalend of the reload shown in FIG. 1 with an outer sleeve of the bodyportion removed and the first articulating link in an advanced or distalarticulated position;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a distal end of a body portion of the actuatordevice of the surgical apparatus shown in FIG. 1 coupled to the proximalend of the reload shown in FIG. 1 with an outer sleeve of the bodyportion removed and the first articulating link in an retracted orproximal articulated position; and

FIGS. 6A-6B are perspective views of the distal ends of the firstarticulating links in accordance with alternate embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein;however, the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of thedisclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specificstructural and functional details disclosed herein are not to beinterpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailedstructure.

Referring to FIG. 1, a surgical apparatus is shown generally as 100 andincludes a manually actuatable actuator device 101 and a reload 106. Theactuator device 101 includes a handle assembly 102 having a stationaryhandle 102 a, a movable handle 136 and an articulation assembly 105. Abody portion 104 extends distally from the handle assembly 102 andincludes a distal end configured to releasably engage the reload 106.Handle assembly 102 also includes a retraction mechanism 116 (FIG. 2)that can be manually grasped and pulled proximally to retract a firingmechanism of the apparatus 100. Such an actuator device 101 is describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,361 (the '361 patent) and will not be describedin further detail herein. The '361 patent is hereby incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety. Alternatively, in any of the embodimentsdisclosed herein, the actuator device can be arranged to be used inconjunction with a robotic surgical system. In any of the embodimentsdisclosed herein the reload can be supported on and/or used inconjunction with an actuator device that is motorized.

The reload 106 includes a shaft portion 109 and a tool assembly 107supported on a distal end of the shaft portion 109. A proximal end ofthe shaft portion 109 may be inserted into an open distal end of thebody portion 104 and the shaft portion 109 of the reload may be rotatedto couple the reload 106 to the body portion 104. This operation isdescribed in detail in the '361 patent which has been incorporatedherein by reference. By way of example, the connection between the bodyportion 104 and shaft portion 109 can be a bayonet coupling, threaded,or the like.

The tool assembly 107 of reload 106 includes first and second jawmembers 108, 110 which are movable in relation to each other from aspaced apart configuration to receive tissue to an approximatedconfiguration (not shown) to clamp tissue for subsequent staplingthereof. A pivot assembly 150 is provided at a distal end of the shaft109 which pivotally couples tool assembly 107 to shaft 109. Pivotassembly 150 supports a proximal end of the tool assembly 107 tofacilitate articulation of the tool assembly about an axis transverse toa longitudinal axis “A-A” of the body portion 104. In certainembodiments, the jaw member 108 of tool assembly 107 is configured tosupport a cartridge assembly 112 including a cartridge 112 a which canbe removably or fixedly supported on jaw member 108. A removable andreplaceable cartridge is described in detail in U.S. Published Appin.No. 2013/0098965 which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the actuator device 102 includes a firstarticulating link 120 which is movable from a non-articulated position,i.e., the position in which the tool assembly 107 is aligned with thelongitudinal axis of the actuator device 101, shown in FIG. 3 distallyto a first articulated position and proximally to a second articulatedposition. As described in the '361 patent, the first articulation link120 is movable from the non-articulated position to the first and secondarticulated positions by operating a lever 105 a of the articulatingassembly 105. For a more detailed description of the articulationassembly 105, see the '361 patent which has been incorporated herein byreference.

Referring to FIG. 2, the first articulating link 120 has a generallyelongated body 121 having a proximal end (not shown) that is coupled tothe articulation lever 105 of the actuator device 101. The firstarticulating link 120 includes a distal end 122 including a distal hookportion 124 that is configured to selectively engage a proximal hookportion 125 provided on a proximal end 123 of a second articulating link130 of the reload 107. The second articulation link 130 is slidablysupported within shaft 109 of reload 106 (FIGS. 3-5) and includes adistal end (not shown) engaged with the pivot assembly 150. Movement ofthe second articulation link 130 within the shaft 109 of the reload 106effects articulation of the tool assembly 107 as described, e.g., in the361 patent.

A mechanical interface, which can be in the form of a pin 126, isprovided on the first articulating link 120. The pin 126 is positionedadjacent and proximal to the distal hook portion 124 of the firstarticulating link 120. The pin 126 can be monolithically formed with thefirst articulating link 120. Alternatively, the pin 126 can be coupledto the first articulating link 120 via one or more suitable couplingmethods, e.g., welding, adhesive, pressing, etc.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the pin 126 is slidably positioned to bereceived within a slot 128 defined by internal wall portions 132 of thebody portion 104 adjacent a distal end of the body portion 104. When thelever 105 a of the articulating assembly 105 is actuated (to a firstconfiguration), the first articulating link 120 is moved linearly withinbody portion 104 to slide the pin 126 within the slot 128 in the bodyportion 104. When the proximal hook portion 125 of the secondarticulating link 130 of the reload 106 is engaged with the distal hookportion 124 of the first articulating link 120 of the surgical staplingapparatus 100 and the pin 126 is slid into the slot 128 of the bodyportion 104, the proximal hook portion 125 of the second articulatinglink 130 is positioned adjacent the internal wall portions 132 of thebody portion 104 (see FIG. 5). In this position, if a user attempts torotate the reload 106 in an effort to disengage the reload 106 from thebody portion 104, the internal wall portions 132 of the body portion 104engage the proximal hook portion 125 of the second articulating link 130to prevent rotation of the reload 106 in relation to the body portion104. Thus, with the proximal hook portion 125 of the second articulatinglink 130 positioned in slot 128 between the internal wall portions 132of the body portion 104, the reload 106 is prevented from rotating inrelation to body portion 104, and becoming inadvertently uncoupled fromthe body portion 14.

The pin 126 is also configured to slidably engage a correspondingmechanical interface provided on the shaft 109 of the reload 106. In theillustrative embodiment, for example, the mechanical interface, whichcan be in the form of a slot 134 that is provided adjacent a proximalend of the shaft 109 of the reload 106 (FIGS. 4-5). When the lever 105 aof the articulating assembly 105 is actuated (e.g., to a secondconfiguration to articulate the tool assembly 107), the firstarticulating link 120 is moved linearly within the shaft 109 of thereload 106 to slide the pin 126 into the slot 134 in the shaft 109 (seeFIG. 4). In this position, if a user attempts to rotate the reload 106in an effort to disengage the reload 106 from the body portion 104, theinternal wall portions that define the slot 134 engage the pin 126 ofthe first articulating link 120 to prevent rotation of the reload 106 inrelation to the body portion 104. Thus, with the pin 126 positioned inthe slot 134, the reload 106 is prevented from rotating, and becominginadvertently uncoupled from the body portion 104.

In use, the proximal end of the shaft 109 of the reload 106 may beinserted into the open distal end of the body portion 104. Thereafter,the shaft 109 may be rotated to couple the reload 106 to the bodyportion 104. When the reload 106 is coupled to the body portion 104, thedistal hook portion 124 of the first articulating link 120 is engagedwith the proximal hook portion 125 of the second articulating link 130and the proximal hook portion 125 of the second articulating link 130will be positioned to contact the internal wall 132 of the body portion104 (FIG. 5). As noted above, a user will be prevented from rotating thereload 106 in relation to the body portion 104 of the of the actuatordevice 101 as a result of the hook portion 125 of the first articulatinglink 130 coming into contacting the internal wall 132. Thus, the reload106 cannot be inadvertently uncoupled from the body portion 104.

The lever 105 a of the articulating assembly 130 may be actuated toapproximate the second articulating link 130 distally to articulate thetool assembly 107 about the pivot assembly 150. With the tool assembly107 in the articulated configuration, the pin 126 will be positionedwithin the internal walls that define the slot 134 of the reload 106 anda user will be prevented from rotating the reload 106 in relation to thebody portion 104 of the of the actuator device 101. Thus, the reload 106cannot be inadvertently uncoupled from the body portion 104 when thetool assembly 107 is in the articulated configuration.

When the lever 105 a of the articulating assembly 105 is actuated (e.g.,to a third configuration to uncouple the reload 106 from the bodyportion 104), the first articulating link 120 is moved linearly withinthe body portion 104 to a slide the pin 126 out of engagement with theslot 134 in the shaft 109 and the second articulating link 130 to aposition within the body portion 104 distal to the slot 128 (see FIG.3). In this position, a user may rotate the reload 106 to disengage thereload 106 from the body portion 104. That is, the internal wallportions 132 that define the slot 1128 will not engage the proximal hookportion 125 of the second articulating link 130.

The unique configuration of the first articulation link 120 includingthe pin 126 overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks associated withconventional staplers that are configured for use with articulatingreloads. Specifically, this configuration prevents the reload 106 frombeing uncoupled from the body portion 104 when the tool assembly 107 isin an articulated configuration.

From the foregoing and with reference to the various figure drawings,those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain modifications canalso be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scopeof the same. For example, while the first articulating link 120 has beendescribed herein as including a pin 126, other devices may be utilizedin place of the pin 126. For example, FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate twodifferent first articulating link configurations, which can be used inany of the embodiments disclosed herein. Specifically, FIG. 6Aillustrates a first articulating link 220 that includes a welded block226 and FIG. 6B illustrates a first articulating link 320 that includesa lance 326. Other than modifying the slot 134 in the reload 106 toaccommodate the specific configuration of the welded block 226 and thelance 326, the first articulating links 226, 326 function in a manner asdescribed above with respect to the first articulation link 126.Accordingly, the first articulating links 226, 326 will not be describedin further detail.

While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in thedrawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, asit is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art willallow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the abovedescription should not be construed as limiting, but merely asexemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the artwill envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of theclaims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A surgical apparatus, comprising: an actuatordevice including a body portion defining a longitudinal axis and a firstarticulating link extending longitudinally along the body portion, thefirst articulating link including at least one mechanical interfacedisposed thereon and being movable between a non-articulated positionand at least one articulated position; and a reload configured to bereleasably coupled to a distal end of the body portion of the actuatordevice, the reload including a second articulating link configured toengage the first articulating link when the reload is coupled to theactuator device, the reload including a tool assembly which is pivotablefrom a first a position aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bodyportion to at least one position misaligned with the longitudinal axisof the body portion, wherein the first articulation link and themechanical interface are configured to prevent the reload from beingdisengaged from the actuator device when the first articulating link isin the at least one articulated position.
 2. A surgical apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanical interfacedisposed on the first articulating link is selected from the groupconsisting of a pin, a welded block and a lance.
 3. A surgical apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanical interfacedisposed on the first articulating link is positioned adjacent a distalhook portion disposed at a distal end of the first articulating link. 4.A surgical apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least onemechanical interface disposed on the first articulating link ispositioned proximal of the distal hook portion of the first articulatinglink.
 5. A surgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reloadincludes a slot disposed adjacent a proximal end of a shaft of thereload.
 6. A surgical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the atleast one mechanical interface disposed on the first articulating linkis configured to be received in the slot on the shaft of the reload whenthe first and second articulating links are in the at least onearticulated position to prevent the reload from being disengaged fromthe actuator device.
 7. A surgical apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the body portion includes a slot adjacent the distal endthereof.
 8. A surgical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the atleast one mechanical interface disposed on the first articulating linkis configured to be received in the slot of the body portion when thefirst and second articulating links are engaged with one another and inthe non-articulated position.
 9. A surgical apparatus according to claim8, wherein the slot of the body portion and a hook portion of the secondarticulating link of the reload is configured to prevent the reload frombeing rotated relative to the body portion of the actuator device.
 10. Asurgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surgical apparatusis a manual surgical stapling apparatus.
 11. A surgical apparatus,comprising: an actuator device including a body portion defining alongitudinal axis and a first articulating link extending longitudinallyalong the body portion, the body portion including a first mechanicalinterface disposed thereon, and the first articulating link beinglongitudinally movable between an initial first position and at leastone second articulated position; a reload configured to be releasablycoupled to a distal end of the body portion of the actuator device viathe first mechanical interface, the reload including a secondarticulating link configured to engage the first articulating link whenthe reload is coupled to the actuator device, the reload including atool assembly which is pivotable from a first a position aligned withthe longitudinal axis of the body portion to at least one positionmisaligned with the longitudinal axis of the body portion, the secondarticulation link having a first position and at least one secondposition corresponding to the first position and second position of thefirst articulation link; and a second mechanical interface definedbetween the first articulation link and the reload including a slotconfigured to prevent the reload from being disengaged from the actuatordevice when the first articulating link is in the at least one secondarticulated position.
 12. A surgical apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the second mechanical interface disposed on the firstarticulating link is selected from the group consisting of a pin, awelded block and a lance.
 13. A surgical apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the second mechanical interface disposed on the firstarticulating link is positioned adjacent a distal hook portion disposedat a distal end of the first articulating link.
 14. A surgical apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the first mechanical interface forms abayonet connection.
 15. A surgical apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the reload includes a slot disposed adjacent a proximal end ofthe reload, and the second mechanical interface includes a pin.
 16. Asurgical apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the pin is configuredto be received in the slot of the reload when the first articulatinglink is in the second articulated position to prevent the reload frombeing disengaged from the actuator device.
 17. A surgical apparatusaccording to claim 11, wherein the tool assembly includes a removableand replaceable staple cartridge.